HAVE YOU EVER PRAYED FOR SOMETHING when you secretly did not want a solution to the problem? For instance, have you talked about something so negatively that if it were straightened out, you would be proven wrong?
I’ll take an example. I have spoofed, criticized, laughed at, derided Kamala Harris—I would say quite a bit. 😀 If I ask God for new leadership in Washington, would I like him to answer by giving Kamala good sense? Not likely, I want her to fail just like I predict she will.
Let’s downsize that illustration. Maybe it’s a neighbor. Maybe it’s a local business.
Another example: I don’t like Starbucks; I’m not impressed when I see someone drink from a Starbucks cup. A Dutch Boy store has moved into town. Their logo is so cute. I love them already. I pray tht Dutch Boy will succeed, not because I want their wares, but because I want them to tromp all over Starbucks. 😀
Let me throw out something even more personal and heart rending. Can/Does that kind of thing happen even in one’s family? Parents, do you ever “shade” your prayers for your kids? Do you secretly hope God’s is more gracious to Obedient Lady than he is to Lazy Son?
After all, you have told Lazy Son a million times that his life is not going to be worth living if he doesn’t change his ways!
Lazy Son hears your prayers. How sincere do you think he believes you to be?
Sweet aroma 
Oneta, I don’t think it’s necessarily wrong to pray that those who do wrong reap the consequences for their wrongdoing. That’s the mercy of God – disciplining them, giving them a chance to repent, so that they won’t reap ETERNAL judgment. On the other hand, if the Lord is “good” to the prodigal (by our definition of “good”) (s)he may get the false sense of getting away with what (s)he is doing and not come to the Lord any time soon (or ever). That would not be TRULY good in the end.
…Just a little “divine perspective,” which admittedly isn’t always identical to ours. 😉
Agreed. My point is that we can be so selfish as to hope the prodigal fails. not because he comes home, but because we wanted him to reap his bad decision. In Jesus’ parable he did reap and repent. Father would have chosen an easier route to the righteous end. If, however, they refuse the easy invitation to come to the Father, they are blessed to be brought by way of discipline.
Yep, I was always pretty much the compliant kid, preferring the easy way. 😉
Your personal transparency here is brave and drives home the point very effectively, Oneta.
Thanks for the nice words. At my age there is little to hold back from telling. Most of it is funny; all of it is glory to God. If it does not glorify God and “protect” some individual, I don’t tell it. I’ve had some rough/tough spots that I do not share because of relationships within family or friends. For instance, I do have some loony liberals that I could tell stories about. Hard not to go there!
I love your logic😀
Thanks for keeping with me, Kathy, and for letting me know you are there.
I am here. At least I think so – most of the time. I enjoy your posts and they usually make me chuckle.
Oneta, sometimes I have to pause and seek God’s forgiveness before I continue to pray for someone that I adamantly oppose. We’re supposed to pray for our leaders, and sometimes I just find it really hard. I totally understand what you’re saying here.
Yes, I had the thought of identifying this attitude as unforgiveness. I guess the Lord used you to hone in on a particular grace we need to be aware of. If we really forgive, we would not be so determined that our “foe” reaps the seed he has sown. Thank you.
I love this post. But you know what?
I think it’s brave to pray, even if our prayers don’t seem sincere, our heart always knows the truth and God has a purpose for everything.
There’s always a positive side to things, Starbucks could be an answered prayer to a dream, Kamala Harris is after all a daughter of some great parents.
And besides, Oneta, there’s no wonder when a good person repents, it’s the return of the prodigal son that makes our hearts awe. Do you really think God loves us less than the ones that went astray? I doubt it.
Have a blessed week! 🤗🌄
I hope he sees me as one of the ninety-nine who will stay safely in the fold when he is “on call.” He is never less than enough to fulfill the needs of all, even at the same time. ‘Tis amazing.”
Dear Oneta,
It IS difficult to pray for those who behave according to worldly priorities, yet that is exactly what Jesus taught us to do… to even pray for our enemies!! Unheard of in Roman, Greek or Hebrew society in Pilate’s day!
See https://capost2k.wordpress.com/2020/04/18/considerations-on-praying-for-an-enemy/
BTW, I don’t think Dutch Boy will do much to tromp all over Starbucks unless we Kansans have taken to drinking latex paints!! 😂
I’m crying “uncle” glug, glug. How about Dutch Bros?
🤠 I had never heard of Dutch Bros Coffee until now! Dutch Boy of course is a paint store. Hopefully, the two companies don’t get their formulas mixed up! Especially since Dutch Boy Paints little boy is cuter than just the pretty windmill of Dutch Bros Coffee.
Sometimes, you think you are sincere until it becomes life and death and then you look on how insincere you had been before. As I say in my testimony, saying the salvation prayer does not save you. I said it over 500 times, until…